James L. Craig Excellence in Teaching Award

A good education begins with a thoughtful, well-prepared, and eager student, and a committed faculty member for whom teaching is critically important. Think about those faculty whose teaching—in a classroom, in a lab, or one-on-one—has made a difference in your life and nominate them for the Craig Award.

Established by University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health alumnus James L. Craig, MD, (EOH ’63), this award recognizes faculty who have excelled in the teaching and mentoring of students. Craig awardees are nominated annually by Pitt Public Health students and selected by a committee of Pitt Public Health students and past Craig awardees.

Past Craig Award Honorees

Congratulations to EOH's AARON BARCHOWSKY who received the award for the passion and interest with which he teaches, for always encouraging his students, and his constant work to improve as an instructor. As one nominator put it, "He respects students and he is the best professor I've known."

In a spontaneous and touching gesture, HPM students leapt up to honor WESLEY ROHRER with a standing ovation when he was called to the podium to accept the Craig Teaching Award at the 2017 Pitt Public Health Convocation on Sunday. Rohrer serves as the director of the MHA Program in the Department of Health Policy and Management, where he is an associate professor and vice chair.

Assistant Professor, Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Mary Hawk (BCHS '12) was recognized with the Craig Teaching Award at 2016 Convocation. Hawk has been on the faculty in BCHS since 2012. She teaches a core BCHS class called Program Planning and Proposal Writing. She also does nonprofit work centered on HIV/AIDS direct services, grants management, and organizational leadership.